Airship.



Patented July 10, 1917*.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

` APPLICATION FILED JUNE'30, 191B.

T. IVI. FINLEY.

AIRSHIP.

. Patented Julyflo, 1917.

3 SHEETSfSHEET 2.

. M. HNLEY. y

AlnsHlP.

APPLICATION FILED`JUNE 30, 1916.

l3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

, Patented July 10, 1917.

tti

ity of gas bags to coperatc "rutinas ivi. rrunnv, or onen', rrrssouar.

ARSHIIEP.

Maaate.

ASpetication of Letters Patent.

Application. filed June 30, 1916. Serial Nel'.

To all whom t mag/concefmf Be it known that l, THoM'As lil. FINLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gran, in the county of Missouri', have invented certain new-and useful improvements -in Airships; and l do hereby clear,I and exact description or'1 the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to Which it appertains to make and use the same.

lhe invention relates to an airship.

The object otl the present invention is to improve'the construction ol. airships and to provide an airship equipped with adjustable and rotating planes and also with a pluralvviththe planes in sustaining the airship whereby the carr ing capacity of the same will be materially increased.

A further object of the invention is to provide an airship embodyiiiig some of the characteristics of an aeroplaneand a Eeppelin adapted to offer a minimum resistance in; its passage through the air and capable of operating in the nature oi a parachute and oi" thereby tending to condense the air and cause the propellers to ope-rate in air of maximum density whereby a maximum propelling effect anc a relatively high speed will be attained.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an airshi] provided with the rotary planes located beneath or above the machine and having propellers ada Ml to be brought into and out ot operation v iereby the airship is adapted to hover and is also capable of rising vertically in the ai and of descending slowly and gradually' and gently alighting and of thereby obvir ing the necessity of providing an aviation iicld 'tor this purpose.

With these and other objects in vievr, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination or parte hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and out in the claims hereto appended, being unders .d that various ch anges in tl.. rin. projort "i, size and minor details or construction, i hin the scope of the claims, may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

ln the drawings- Figure i.

is a longitudinal sectional View' Scott and' State of declare the following to be a full,

in liig. 2 of the of an airship constructed in accordance withl this invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan View or the same,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View on the line 3`3 of Fig. l,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the rotary planes illustrating the construction for throwing the Ilifting propeller into and out of operation,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 5-5 of IFig. 4, parts being omitted.

Fig. 6 is a detail tion illustrating the side planes,

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the airship. Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings. A V

ln the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the airship which has tapered terminal portions 1 and body portion 3 of uniform cross sectional area of approximately crescent shape. rlhe manner of mounting the 'body is provided With a longitudinal trough l extending centrally ofits lower portion from one end to the other and arched at the top at 5. and having tapered terminal portions 6 Which gradually decrease in depth to the ends of the body as clearly illustrated in. Fig. l of the drawings.

rlhe tapered terminal end portions which are of the same :Width as the body of the airship are Wedge-shaped and substantially rin the form of the bill of a duclr, the upper tace being transversely rounded front terminal portion is an extension or ledge l0 which is preferably rounded at the corners as clearly illustrated drawings.

The sides of the trough are rounded or ilared at opposite sides of the mouth portion 7 and the bottoni of the. body inclines downwardly and outwardly at opposite sides of the trough at 8 from the roundand the ed portions to the exterior ot' the body IU" ing a parachute like structure or forion which adapted to tend to coin- `ess or condense the air and force the saine upwardly into the trough where the air will have the greatest density so as to be most eectively operated on by main driving propellers 9. The opy'iositely tapered ross sectionally crescent shape body is cornratentea may io, lair.-

plan View partly in sec-V 2 is provided with a' provided With posed of end and intermediate gas bags l0 11n .1U the trough and Vand 11 which are supported vframe structurepreferably made of aluminum to secure maximuml 'strength and space the gas lightness but-the frame maybe constructed in any'desiredi manner and of. any suitable l materialas lwill lbe` readily understood. The 4top 5 of the trough'isformed by an jarch which is braced by metallic memberswor frame sections '12 'and the gas-bags are j ration .of

shaped-to conform to the conigu are provided 'with central 'longitudinal openings of greater height than. the trough 4 so as to extend ,above'the'top of the` trough and'form a compartment the 'i central* formed by spacing the central gas bags -or receptacles from each other. The. intermediate or central gas bags which constitute the body portion of the airshipare arranged in pairs inadvance and in rear ofthe central 14 and the yspaces-15 and 16 between intermediate gas bags 11 are designed to be l .relativelysmalh just sufficientito accommodate Vthe-'framework` for connecting the 4gas vbags and the spaces between Athe gas. bags are designed to be closed or covered so that the airship body will present a smooth conf 'tinuous exterior.l Thefl'oor ofthe central longitudinal'compartment 13 is level and- 4.0 'contain the engines .other equipment.

. ship which 1s supported when on the ground the door of-the central transverse comparte ment has inclined portions 17 .which extendl downwardly and outwardly `.from the central horizontal 'portionof the floor.

manner to secure therequisite strength and lightness andthespace withinthe central longitudinal vcompartment is designed. to

The said space'is designed to be provided with side doors-18 and to have openings readily hauled upinto-the body ofthe air- ,by front and rear wheels 20 vand 21 of any preferred, construction. The airship may be and the number of enginesmay 'of course be varied to provide the 'necessary power for operating the airship. In the accompanying drawings threeengines are shown and are [located atV the center and front and rear portions of the body. Each engine 22 is preferably of the-internal .combustion type and` its shaft 23 is extended' in advance and in rear of the engine and* carries pulleys 24 and which are connected by belts 26-and 27 with pulleys horizontal propeller shaft 30 and onvertif cal propeller shafts 31. The horizontalvpr'o-v peller shafts 30 are journaled in suitable bearings or supports each engine having a separate longitudinal propeller shaft 30;

by la suitable lentirely through the the lifting eifect iof longitudinal space or. ksame is traveling forwardly. 1B which communicates withv i -transverse vcompartment 14av "position and prevent lthe ship from .rolling from whipping.

- hovering and bags lof each-pair and also between the .taperedgas. bags 10 and the adjacent The: framework may be braced in yany desired and the freight and l el of the drawings. 19-4 to 'enable freight to be 28 and 29 mounted on4 a.

and the vertical propeller shafts 31 extend bodyportion of the ma`' chine and are adapted to constitute bracing means for increasing the stren Ih of the -machine. These yvertical prope ler shafts which are arranged in pairs carry rotary propeller or stabilizing planes 32 which are constructed of 'aluminumfor other suitable.

material and which havetlat horizontal cen tral portions 33 andiinclined outer portions `adapted to increase Ody of the airable braces 35l arranged' atan inclination and extending upwardly and inwardly Afrom the outer'portions of thevplanes 32. and secured at `tl1eir upper ends to sleeves 3G arranofed -on tubular members 37 which eX- tend between the sleeves 36 and thepropeller shafts.` Each of the tubularvmembers 37 is provided at its lower end with a pair of propeller blades 38 adapted to becarried upwardly andv downwardly `by, the sli in movement o f the -tubular member` or shag;

.relation with the rotary propeller planes 32 as 'clearly illustrated in'dotted'linesin Fig. Vhen the l'propeller blades 3S are inthe position illustrated by dotted lines'in'the said Fig. 4c they project .above and below the central'horizontal porsection 37 on the vertical propeller shaft to Aarrange the propeller blades .in interloeked tionof the rotary plane 32 and they are .adapted to exert a lifting power and accord ing to the speed with which they are driven y they may operate to raise or lower the airship or cause the sameto hover at an elevation while the main or'driving propellers are thrown out of operation.

The vertically slidable tubular member 37 is equipped at its lower end with anti-'friction wheels 39 arranged to ride upon the flat central yportion of the rotary propeller plane 32 until the blades of the propeller move downwardly into the opening 40 provided in the horizontal portion of the rotary propellerl plane for'the reception of the said blade. The inner portions 4l of the radial `slots or openings Iare enlarged to receive the roll ersl and lugs 42 which support the said rollers and the lblades are also provided at, their lli gagmg the propellers preferci' blades may be three sets ot' propellers are shown the number may of course be va ried to suit requirements. When the rotary lifting propeller is moved downwardly and engages with the openings of the rotary propeller planey the blades extend above and below the central portion of the said plane and the horizontal propeller is interloclied with the plane and is caused to rotate and exert its lifting power which varies of coursewith the speed of the rotary movemc'ntso that the machine may be made to rise or fall or hover without progressing. By disen- :trom the rotary plane and rotating the latter ship will be maintained in a and there will be no rolling of the body or the whipping of the ends to interfere with the aim or the accurate dropping bombs and the like.

The tubular section or shaft 37 is equipped at its upper end with a head d consisting of a peripherally grooved wheel and receiving a fork 46 of a lever i7 which is fulcrumed intermediate ot' its end-s on a suitable support a9. A coiled springll is connected with the outer end oix the lever 47 for urging the lever in one direction andl an operating wire or connection 5l extends from the lever to a pilot house or cab 52 prefer` ably located at the top ot the body as shown and designed to contain the various operating levers and means for controlling the airship. The coiled spring may be employed for holding the horizontal propeller either in or out ot engagement with the rotary propeller plane and a simple operating lever may be employed for moving the lever in the opposite direction; in practice suitable locking means being provided for holding the lever against the action of the spring.

vThe airship is equipped at opposite sides with laterally extending adjustable planes 53 arranged in pairs and mounted ally extending horizontally disposed shafts 5-l constructed of suitablematerialand jour naled in spaced bearings or braces or standards and 56 and also in bearing boxes i? which receive the inner terminals orn the transverse plane carrying shafts 54. The shafts 5t are provided at the* with heads 58 A which are lo d within the bearing boxes and the sait. shafts are also provided with oppositely disposed 'arms 59 which are connected by suitable connections GO with operating levers The operating levers 6i which are fulcrumed at a point :intermediate ot their ends at 62 have the connections Si attached to them above steady position a pair of blades as shown I vment of each shaft the body ot the air- Y .G3 and at its rear rality of separate coinpartm inner ends and below the pivotal points 6% and the said levers Gi which are equipped with suitable locking means are adapted to be shittf ed to tilt the planes which are adapted to bel operated simultaneously or independently. Each plane is provided with an operating lever and the will enable it to be turned from a horizontal position to an inclined position with its trent portion either elevated or depressed above or below the horizontal and it will be clear that by the independent adjustment of the laterally extending side" plane the equilibrium of the machine may be controlled. The operating levers 6l are located within the pilot house or cab and the connections extend from the levers at opposite siles of the crest of the body portion of the machine. The operating levers are preferably mounted on a single transverse shaft and the side planes are located in advance and in rear of the same. i

The airship is equipped at the front end or its body portion with anA elevating'plane end with a rudder 64 which will of course be 'connected with suitable operating means and as any preferred torni of operating mecl'ianism may be employed illustration of the same is deemed unnecessary.. The elevating plane 63 is mounted in a recess or opening 63"" in the ledge or extension a and it is hinged or pivoted by a transverse shaft 63h.' rlhe shaft 63b which is journaled in suitable bearings or' the ledgeor extension is provided with a central operating arm 63 to which a reach rod 63d is connected. The reach rod 63d extends into the body of the airship to suitable.operating means. The aii hip is designed to be equipped at opposite sides of its longitudinal space or compartment with tanks 66, preferably of cylindrical form eX- tending longitudinall of the body and designed in practice to be divid partment to be connected ii the engines, and the connections to be de at the terminal portions of the compiti L inents so that a supply of oil will be assured to each engine in whatever position the airship may assume. Also the partiti s dividing the compartments of .the tank will be provided with suitable valves to enable the liquid to flow through the partitions and equalize the contents-of the several compartments.

The airship in practice is designed to be equipped with the necessary means for en abling access to be had to the various portions of the airship and with all the usual equipmentfor the accommodation of the occupants and for the control oi the machine. 1

The crest of the body portion of the airship is substantially an arch while the'crest partial rotary moveof the -end portions ofthe machine is sharp. and forms a ridge 67 for the purpose of dividing the' air and enablingthe endsof the machine to move upwardly with a miniinum -resistance and inthe forward movement of the machine of the4 said relativelysharp crest or 'ridge in dividing the air sends the same along the-sides of the body and thereby resists and materially eliminates'the tendency of. the air to retard the forward progress of the machine and. depress the front end ofthe same, The parachute or umbrella shape of the body portion air to'divide readily and pass downwardly at each side of the body portion in the upward rising movement of the machine.

Also the particular shape ofthe body portion of the machine aords-the greatest air density iin which the propellers. may op.-l

' erate to the greatest advantage yin propell tudinal trough. The collecting and packing of the air is at a point beneath the body of ling the machine. By virtue of the propellers operating entirely within the trough and the particular shape rof the' body portionv and its tendency to compress and confine the air betweenthe opposite sides of the body portion, the air in the trough will -be moving at a very high rate of speed and as air moving with great force always has its density increased the machine will saddle a volume of relatively dense air in which the currentthrough the trough will constitute' lthe back bone. Theiparachute or umbrella shape of the machine gives to the body thereofl a tendency to collect the' air. in and pack the same between the sides of its longithe'air'ship where advantage is taken of the same by the propellers and such packing 'and increasing of the density of the air does 'not affect or retard the forward movement of the same but on the contrary enables the machineto be driven through the air with a greater speed than would otherwise be possible. s v

The rotating propeller planes with their exteriorfor lower convex surfaces sloping upward will affordawlifting powerto the airship when the latter moves forwardly, and the propellers-vdownward driving force increases the lifting effect andalso 'Provides stabilizing means and will operate to maintain the machine in a steady condition.

When the front end of the body is elevatedv the rotary propeller planesare increased in their slope or inclination andthe said rotary propeller planes are adapted to operate independently of or simultaneously with safety to the occupants.

the horizontal propellerxblades. The adjustable side planes are adapted to' lift the airship and balance the same while in iiight and if there is any tendency when the airship is in flight for the same to roll sidewise such tendency can be counteracted and the position of the machine 4corrected by adjusting the said side planes. The airship is adapted to easily rise and maintain its flight with a maximumiload as it has the combined lifting effect of the gas drums or bags, the side planes, the rotary propellers,

and the shape of thebody with its elevating plane and driving propellers.l

Thiswill enable the airship to rise from the ground or descend to the ground without the necessity of an aviation field or similar landing. Also the airship is adapted to hover and maintain a firm stable position and is particularly adapted for use as a fighting machine as devices of ofenseland defense may be operated-from above and-below. All of the'machinery,'material and the operators are protected inside of the mal chine which may be operated in the most severe weather. Also by reason of the spaces or compartments formed by the gas drums ship may be. maintained at any desired degree. ,If heatis desired it can be supplied by any' suitable heating device and if cool air is required it may be obtained by providing valves in the floors or walls of the machine and the necessary draft may be obtained for expelling foul air and supplying fresh air. The crest of the body portion of the airship provides advantageous places 4for the position of pilot houses on cabs and any desired number may of course be employed. The airship owing to the propellers operating in vair of a maximum density is adapted to develop a relatively high rate of speed and owing to the many means of control the airship will afford a maximum Also the tapered front terminal portion of the body of the airship by having substantially the form of vor bags the temperature inside of the airlar shape of the front portion enables the body of the airship to respond readily tothe means for changing the direction 'of the body. The airship possesses the advantageous features of a Zeppelin and an aeroplane without the disadvantages vof4 either type of machine and it also combines with the said features the advantages of a parachute not only to facilitatean easy descenty but also to enable the driving propellers to operate on air of maximum density. The

gyratory element constituted by the rotary propeller plane contributes greatly to the safety of the airship and the perfect control of the same by maintaining the body of the cent shape in cross section and provided at the bottom vvith a vcentral longitudinal trough or space and a propeller operating in the said space, said body consisting of spaced inflated buoyant sections 'andan intervening compartment.

2. An airship ot' the class described including a body substantially crescent shape in cross section and provided at the bottom with a longitudinal trough or space and having opposite bottom portions extending downwardly from the trough or space at an inclination. .said body ha 'ng a compartment located above the trough and a propeller operating` in ihe trough or space.

3. An airship ott-he class described including a body portion approximate y crescent shape in cross section and having a central longitudinal trough, the bottom of the body being inclined downwardly at eachA side ot' the trough and rounded at the sides of the trough, body portionhaving a compartment located above andgat the sides of the trough.

4. An airship of the class described including a body portion substantially crescent shape in cross section and provided With a tapered terminal substantially Wedgeshaped portion, said body portion also having a longitudinal trough extending throughout the length of the body and -along the tapered terminal portion of the saine and gradually increasing in depth from the ends of the a. ,hip to the body portion.

5. An airship of the class described including a body substantially crescent shape in cross section and having longitudinally tapered end portions, said body being also provided with trough extending longitudinally of the bottom ot the body and the ends, the ends of the body portion being iniiatcd and buoyant and the body portion having inflated buoyant sections and an intervening compartment located above the said trough.

6. An airship of the class-described including a body substantially crescent shape iiAV cross section and having longitudinally tapered ends of approximately the Width of the body and provided with a central longitudinal trough locatedat the bottom of the body and extending from one end to the other o same and gradually increasing in depth` somthe ends of the airship to the body portion.

. nected with the sleeves and means: ing the blades into engagement with 7. An airship of the class described including` a body substantially crescent shape in cross section and having tapered termials consisting of buoyant inflated sections, the space between the tapered terminals being provided with infiated buoyant sections and an intervening compartment, said body being also provided with a central longitudinal trough arched at-the top and a plurality of propellers operating in the trough.

8. An airship of the class described incli'iding a body substantially crescent shape in cross section andl having a central longitudinal trough located at the bottom ofthe body, said body comprising a plurality of gas bags of substantially` the cross sectional shape of the body and spaced apart to form passages extending longitudinally and transversely above the trough.

9. An airship of the class described including a body and a rotary propeller plane located'below the body and having a plurality of propeller blades movable-into and out of engagement with the said plane to permit the plane to rotate independently of the propeller blades.

10. An airship of the class described including a body oit substantially lcrescent shape incross section and rotary propeller 'planes located below the body at opposite sides of thetrough and provided With propeller bladesmovable into and out of engagement With the planes to. permit the planes to rotate vindependently of the propeller blades.

11. An airship of the class described provided With a rotary plane lconstituting a 'gyratory stabilizing member consisting of a substantially saucer shaped body presenting a lower convex surface. V

12. A n airship of the class described provided with a propeller plane constituting la gyratory stabilizing memberl consisting of a substantially horizontal bottom portion and inclined outer portions, propeller blades and means for connecting the propeller blades with and disconnecting them from the said planes to permit the latter to rotat'e independent-ly of the propeller blades.

13. An airship of the class described in-/ cluding alower rotary propeller plane, a shaft connected With the plane. a sleeve slidablc on the shaft, propeller bie` l,

the said plane, the plane and the blardsa having coacting interlocking means.

14. An airship of the clase described including a rotary propeller plan:4 having a central Hat portion provided vfi'th radial openings and propeller bladcsmovable into and out of engagement with the openings and adapted to extend belovY the said plane. 15. An airship of the class described iniii-f cluding a substantially horizontal rotary propeller plane providedwith. radial openjings, means for A rotating the propeller plane, propeller blades movable into and 'outpof the j said openings and adapted to project above and below the said plane. l.

16. An airship of the class described including a rotary'propeller plane having radial openings, a shaft connected with the propeller plane, a sleeve slidable on the shaft and having propeller blades movable` into andout lof thesaid openings, said blades being provided with lugs located at the .terminals of the'blade'sto engage the plane and anti-friction devices carried by the sleeve and located at the innerends of the bladesv and arranged to run on the plane.

. 17 An airship of the class described Vin- Y cludin a substantially vertical shaft, a' rotary p anefmou'ntedon the shaft and having radial openings, a lsleeve slidable on the shaft and provided with blades movable; to and :from the said openings,`an'operating lever havinga fork connected with the said sleeve, an outer sleeve and braces extending from-the outer sleeve to the rotary pro- `peller plane.

18. An airship of the class described including a body7 substantially crescent shape in cross sectionand having a. central troughv -l at the bottom, propellers 4operating 'in the trough, horizontal propeller planes located beneath the body at opposite sides of the4 said trough and provided vWith propeller blades movable into andl out of action and laterally extending planes projecting from the upper portion of the body and mounted for tilting movement. v

19. An airshipof the class described including a body substantially crescent shape in cross section and having tapered end portions, said body being provided also with a longitudinal trough ,located at the bottom of the body between the sides thereof and extending the entire length of the body, the

` tapered terminal portions of the body having relatively sharp ridges or crests, adjustable planes extending laterally from the top of the body and rotary propeller planes located beneath the body at opposite sides of the trough and having outer inclined portions and provided .-With' propeller blades movableinto and out of operative position to enable the propeller planes to rotate inpered front portion of approximately the Width of the body, said front portion being provided at the extremity with a forwardly projecting laterally extending horizontal ledge and a pivotally mounted plane vcarried by the ledge.

22. An airship of the lclass described including a bubyant body provided with a tapered front portion of approximately the Widthv ofthe body, said front portion being provided at the extremity .with a forwardly projecting thin horizontal ledge, said ledge being provided at the front With a central opening and an lelevating plane pivotally mounted in theopening of the ledge.

23; An airship of the class described including .-a rotary plane rotating on a substantiallyM vertical axis and consisting of a gyratory member of substantially saucershapepresenting a concave upper face. 24. An` airship of the `class described including a gyratory member arranged horizontally and consisting of horizontal portions and inclined portions extending up,

Wardly from the horizontal portion.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presenceof two Witnesses.

THOMAS M. FINLEY.

Witnesses:

L. P. DmsxILL, W. A. ENGLE. 

